An excitable, mixed crowd welcomes George Ezra’s multi-platinum-selling blend of pop and soulful folk to Cardiff’s Motorpoint Arena. The second night of his 2022 tour, promoting the recently released Gold Rush Kid, with Cape Town band Beatenberg in support, the venue feels like the perfect venue to complement Ezra’s mixture of the slow-paced and the upbeat. Small enough, as arenas go, to maintain a certain intimate atmosphere, but at a sold-out show like this, not short of liveliness.

Ezra’s touring band, including trumpeters, guitarists, a drummer and a pianist, enter the stage through a projected red curtain accompanied by Tom Jones’ It’s Not Unusual. Ezra follows behind to applause and cheers, and jumped straight into his setlist, kicking off with Gold Rush Kid’s Anyone For You. After that, fan favourites abound, including tracks from his 2014 debut Wanted On Voyage – its well-loved single Cassy O was second to be played, and accelerated the crowd – and 2018’s Staying At Tamara’s.

In between songs, Ezra invites the crowd to sing and dance along with him, shares anecdotes and speaks about his songwriting process. Gold Rush Kid, he says, is all about enjoying being exactly where you’re supposed to be, before going on the charm offensive: “Right now tonight, this is exactly where I’d like to be, with you, here.”

Before blessing us with 2015’s folk-rock Barcelona, Ezra explains how he observes people and surroundings, makes notes in his journals and turns them into songs at home: the tune itself is received with swaying arms and phone torches. The audience is invited to sing along to Pretty Shining People, this reviewer’s personal favourite of his, and come the end of this performer-audience duo, Ezra announces, “That was beautiful!”

The set’s midpoint is mellower, with Saviour, In The Morning and All My Love; things really tone down when the band, excepting pianist James Wyre, leave the stage for Ezra’s emotional, special performance of Hold My Girl. The energy picks up again with recent radio hit Green Green Grass, before we all clap along to Paradise and sing to signature numbers Blame It On Me and Budapest.

A show boosted by an aesthetically charming stage set – Ezra’s iconic ‘Gold Rush Kid’ denim jacket was worn up until the encore, which brought electric performances of Dance All Over Me and Shotgun – and, from scrapbook vibes to quirky, grand landscapes and bright illustrations, the animated graphics accompanied by neon lights were second to none.

Motorpoint Arena Cardiff, Wed 14 Sept

words EVE DAVIES photos ANTHONY CONWAY